Marduk

Are Atheists mentally ill?

He he he, I thought I’d play Devils advocate and turn things a round a tad.
I’m 50 years old and 90% of the people I’ve ever met, including those who if asked would say they were Christians, rarely ever think about religion, they may go to church now and then or say “Lord love a duck�? or something, but other than possibly taking comfort in their religion in times of grief, never give the matter much thought. It seems Fundamentalists and Atheists are the only ones who seem to have suffered from Religion in a negative manner, or even discuss the topic.
What’s up with that? Two side of the same coin? Mental illness?

IamMoose

Hello! I am not sure I understand what you're asking .. can you simplify it for me a tad?

Marduk

“Hello! I am not sure I understand what you're asking .. can you simplify it for me a tad? “

Fundamentalists and Atheists are the only ones who foam off at the mouth about religion, why? No one else really gives a rats ass other than to say “oh poor uncle Bill, he is in a better place now�?

Vorkosigan

Do all atheists do this?

DNAinaGoodway

Belief is natural.

Religion is learned.

If no religions existed, humans would still have the ability, and perhaps the need, to believe.

We can now fill that need and develop that ability in a healthy way by basing our beliefs on hard evidence.

If we base our beliefs on evidence, we're as healthy as we can be.

Religious people have a healthy ability to believe, but their ability has been sidetracked, highjacked, misdirected by a system of beliefs that is not based on evidence.

For many people, that may not be a problem. But it can be a problem for all of us when it leads to terrorism, or trying to self-fulfill predictions of the "end days". On a large scale, religion can not only be unhealthy, but downright dangerous.

Marduk

of course 'all' atheists don't, 'all' anybody don't agree on anything, its just an impression that sticks out after all the years I've been here,

It’s not much different than many of the posts regarding metaphysical-supernatural-philosophical ideas in general. There seems to be an almost obsessive compulsive NEED (not just some ideological difference of opinion) to DEMAND the universe be absolutely nothing more than “what we can sense and measure is ALL THER IS DAMN IT". To someone like me, who doesn’t really care, as long as I get lunch and my animals are happy, It appears like the reverse cowardly lion from Oz “I do believe in reality, I do I do I do�?

Confession to make, when I was a teenager I had a fondness for powerful hallucinogens, LSD mostly, I once thought I was slipping into different ‘worlds’, and being a nominal Christian at the time, prayed to Jesus, of all people, to make the universe “real�?. I just often get the impression there are more psychological reasons for choices of world view than ‘rational’ ones.
That’s all.

Barcode

For years I never gave my non-belief a passing thought, it seemed (and still is) about as relevant as my toothpaste preference in the morning. But, then I met a Catholic girl, and before long issues developed (now resolved ) - so until I'm actually confronted with religion in some way, then I don't give my views too much thought since I'm rather secure with my lack of belief.

Part of it is also cultural, in the U.K (where I'm from) it's generally considered impolite to talk about religious beliefs with those you don't know well. Whereas on my travels through the States, it seems certain types think nothing of coming up to you and preaching about Jesus.

And it is only on the internet that I talk about religion - in real life, I can't remember the last time I encountered a fundamentalist or atheist for that matter: it's just not spoken about.

jdlongmire

...just like atheism...

Erebus

Plenty of atheists don't care about religion, of course you won't know they are atheists since they probably don't want to discuss religion.
Even worse many don't even know what the word 'atheist' means, therefore they will not label themselves as such.

Edit: I forgot to add that i think your idea of how atheists behave is severely exaggerated. Most people who post at II seem quite calm and well behaved.

whichphilosophy

In reply to the first question or point. No In reply to a question whether those who believe in religion are insane, No.

Mentally ill is a different topic.